Men's Australian Eight Oar Championship (King's Cup) commemorative oar

Date1934

Object number00040876

NameOar

MediumWood, leather, metal

Dimensions65 x 3625 x 110 mm

ClassificationsCommemorative artefacts

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from the Bromley family

Terms

DescriptionThis illuminated oar commemorates the New South Wales win of the Men's Australian Eight Oar Championship held in 1934. It features the names, position and weight of the rowers.HistoryEdward (Ted) Bromley (1912 - 2004) began rowing at Mosman Rowing Club in 1929 after seeing the reception given to the winning King's Cup Crew when they returned to Mosman Rowing Club from their win in Perth. He competed successfully in the novice and junior ranks and was selected as a member of the Senior Eight for his first race at the St Joseph's Regatta in 1930. During the late 1930s Bromley became interested in pair-oar rowing and planned to compete in the Olympics but competitive rowing ceased during World War II. In 1948 he won selection with partner Spencer Grace in the pair’s event for the 1948 Olympics held in London. They came fourth. Bromley and Grace continued to row together regularly until the late 1990s. Interstate rowing In Australia began in 1863 with a competition for four-oared gigs held on the Parramatta River between crews representing Victoria and New South Wales. The first contested interstate eight-oared race was held in Melbourne in 1878 between New South Wales and Victoria, and was won by Victoria. In 1885 Queensland and Tasmania joined the competition followed by Western Australia in 1897 and South Australia in 1899. Competition between the States ceased during the First World War and resumed on 15 May 1920 on the Brisbane River where the Men's Eight trophy (King's Cup) was first introduced. The King's Cup was first won by an Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) Eight competing at the Royal Henley Allied Peace Regatta in England in 1919. The Australian War Memorial retained the trophy initially refusing requests for it to be made the annual Australian Men's Eight rowing prize. After rowers petitioned King George V in 1920 a Royal Command was issued and forward to the Australian Government in 1921 by Winston Churchill, Secretary of State to the Colonies stating: 'His Majesty commends me to inform you that it is his wish that the Cup should be used as a permanent trophy and be competed for annually in the Interstate Eight Oared Race of Australia'.SignificanceThis oar helps to document Australian Men's Rowing in the 1930s, the history of the King's Cup and the rowing career of Ted Bromley, former Olympian and member of Mosman Rowing Club.